Compulsory military service
Individuals subject to compulsory military service must enlist in the year in which they turn 18. They must attend a recruitment event before the end of the year in which they reach the age of 24. All Swiss men are required to complete military service, while women and Swiss nationals living abroad can serve on a voluntary basis. Special rules apply to dual citizens and naturalised Swiss citizens. Swiss men who wish to spend more than twelve consecutive months abroad and have deregistered from their commune of residence in Switzerland must apply for exemption from military service while abroad.
As a Swiss citizen abroad, you are exempt from attending recruitment events and completing compulsory military service in peacetime as long as you are living outside Switzerland. However, you may serve on a voluntary basis. Depending on your age, you will be required to complete military service if you return to Switzerland permanently. Dual nationals who have completed compulsory military service in the other country of which they are a citizen are exempt from compulsory military service in Switzerland. Bilateral agreements giving dual nationals the right to opt in to military service are in place with Austria, France, Germany and Italy.
Although they are exempt from attending recruitment events and completing compulsory military service, Swiss citizens living abroad may serve on a voluntary basis. If you return to Switzerland permanently and are not required to complete military service due to your age, you may still serve on a voluntary basis. Dual nationals who have completed compulsory military service in the other country of which they are a citizen are exempt from compulsory military service in Switzerland.
If you wish to spend more than twelve consecutive months abroad and have deregistered from your commune of residence in Switzerland, you must apply to your cantonal district command for exemption from military service while abroad.
Personal leave for persons subject to compulsory military service
Information on military leave is available on the Swiss Armed Forces website.
Military certificates
The Armed Forces Personnel Service (Pers A) is responsible for issuing military certificates and/or certificates of completion of compulsory military service.
Swiss Armed Forces: Armed Forces Personnel Service (German, French, Italian)
Documents issued by a Swiss authority must normally be legalised (apostille) prior to submission to a foreign authority. Further information is available under Legalisations.
Swiss citizens living abroad: registering for voluntary military service
Swiss citizens intending to register for voluntary military service must meet certain requirements, including the following:
- You have not yet completed military service or any alternative civilian service in another country.
- You are not over the age of 24 (the maximum age for recruitment). You may register until the end of the year in which you turn 24.
- You are not a national of the country where you live, subject to any bilateral agreements governing military service for dual nationals.
- You are proficient in one of Switzerland's national languages.
- You have not been convicted of a serious criminal offence. An original copy of a criminal records extract from your country of residence, for which an appropriate certification/apostille has been provided, must be submitted in due course.
For further information, please contact the Armed Forces Personnel Service (Pers A), which is responsible for all matters pertaining to your registration.
- Swiss Armed Forces: Who can and must complete compulsory service? (German, French, Italian)
- Swiss Armed Forces Personnel Service (German, French, Italian)
- Swiss Armed Forces: Pathway to serving (German, French, Italian)
List of treaties concluded with other states on the military service of dual nationals (de, fr, it)